Dr. Susan J. Wolff, Dean and CEO of Great Falls College MSU, is this year’s Athena Award winner.

The Athena Award, adopted by the Great Falls Area Chamber of Commerce in 1986, now in its 33rd year, recognizes professional excellence, community service and active assistance in supporting women in their attainment of professional excellence and leadership skills. Honorees are selected by former Athena winners. Last year’s honoree was Linda Caricaburu, with James Talcott Construction.

Wolff, a Montana native who spent years as an educational leader in Oregon and Washington, assumed her current position at Great Falls College in July 2012. Her strong leadership skills were immediately apparent. She focused her work on providing opportunities for others to achieve their goals through education, skills training and career pathways.

Shortly after arriving in Great Falls, Wolff was asked by the Montana Commissioner of Higher Education to take the lead on overseeing a $25 million federal grant involving 13 college campuses in the state. The grant was to create reforms and innovations in higher education to expedite training for better jobs. She agreed, and over four years the grant served 7,219 participants.

Under her leadership, and as lead campus on the Rev-Up grant, Great Falls College expanded its welding program to enhance student opportunities as ADF was coming to town. She also worked with Great Falls Public Schools to enhance a dual-credit program to allow high school students to earn college credit while taking welding courses. Each year now a number of students receive college welding certificates at the same time they graduate from high school. These students now leave ready for the workforce.

The need for college programs ebbs and flows, and Wolff has instituted a data-based methodology for evaluating which programs should be expanded, retooled or eliminated. While the process often involves difficult choices, it has demonstrated success with students and employers. Great Falls College MSU is now seen as the model in Montana for program evaluation.

(Photo: Courtesy Photo)

Wolff recognizes the college needs a presence and voice throughout the community, and she works hard to develop strong, collaborative relationships with the business community, government, other public and private education partners and community agencies.

She currently serves on a number of boards including the Great Falls Development Authority, Great Falls Area Chamber of Commerce and its Agriculture and Military Affairs Committees, United Way, Montana Chamber of Commerce, City of Great Falls’ Community Development Council, Montana Ambassador Board, Montana Manufacturing Extension Center Advisory Board, and the Governor’s Work-Based Learning Task Force. Wolff is also an active Rotarian.

Wolff will be honored at the Great Falls Area Chamber of Commerce Quarterly Luncheon on Wednesday, Feb. 28 beginning at 11:30 a.m. at the Best Western Plus Heritage Inn. For reservations and tickets, which can be paid over the phone or at the door, are $25 for members and $35 for non-members, can be made by calling the Chamber at 761-4434 by Friday, Feb. 23.

This award is presently sponsored by Anderson ZurMuehlen, City Motors and Embark Federal Credit Union.